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Original poster

Tax credits ending for teenagers- what have you put in place to manage the income drop?

26 replies

Tumbleweed101 · 01/07/2018 08:57

I’m a single parent of four children. Last year my son left education so his tax credits ended and I also lost my discount for council tax and housing benefit. This year my DD does the same.

This means I now have half the tax credits coming in but higher expenditure. Ie no help with C/T and housing and teens who still eat at home. My DS has just left an awful job and is looking for a new one and my DD is on her final bit of college so only had a weekend job so neither can contribute right now. My ex doesn’t give financial support.

So my question is really those of you who have been in this situation how did you improve things financially? I’m on a fairly low income not much over min wage.

I have a few options - I can increase my hours a little, although that could trigger the need for childcare costs.

I could do some training so I can get a high paid job before tax credits end for my younger children.

But any other ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tumbleweed101 · 01/07/2018 08:59

I should add I can likely manage - just - on what I’ll have coming in but need to get more money coming in before I lose the tax credits for the younger two children as my wage is nowhere near enough to run a home.

OP posts:
NotARegularPenguin · 01/07/2018 09:00

Are your DS and DD claiming for everything they can, jsa, ?

nellly · 01/07/2018 09:11

You need to explain it to your kids and if they're not in education they need to get jobs! My DM was on tax credits when I was a teen and it was made clear that at 18 or when I stopped education I needed to
Contribute at least the shortfall!

ivykaty44 · 01/07/2018 13:37

If the two older ones are feee loading then that needs to stop. They need to be putting in from benefits or wages. They should also be helping with childcare if not working

RedHelenB · 01/07/2018 14:08

My dd is at uni and I've made it clear that the tax credits are for her younger siblings benefit although I'm obviously housing and feeding her during the holidays and running her to work. If money was tighter then she'd have to contribute.

RedHelenB · 01/07/2018 14:12

If you haven't enough to run a home then unfortunately you will.need to move somewhere smaller and cheaper unless you can up your hours/get a higher paid job.

BettyBaggins · 01/07/2018 14:17

You need to consider also that when kids start earning their own and paying you rent some then realise they could rent elsewhere and up and leave home to house share or live with partner. Re-train, consider you may need a lodger or downsize in the long-term. Not easy once kids go and you have a low wage to keep running a family house. Good for you for thinking ahead.

LostInLeics · 01/07/2018 14:19

Your adult son who is living at home needs to contribute towards the rent, bills and food, full stop. Why on earth did he leave his "awful job" without lining up another one to go to first? He needs to get a job and start paying his way, whether he like it or not. A bit of tough love is required.

Brightermornings · 01/07/2018 14:22

My ds paid board after he quit uni. I lost my council tax discount he paid me a little bit more. I know not everyone agrees with charging board but I paid it when I was at home.

stoneagemum · 01/07/2018 14:40

I managed to increase my earnings whilst they were teens to the point of no tax credit help and now the 18 year old pays the shortfall in council tax discount and CB to me as his contribution to living in this home. The next dc will pay the same once the CB ends for them.

It was hard to increase my earnings and the DC had to become independent as young teens regard to cooking, looking after the home and being left alone as I was working long/different shifts so I might not be there to see them off to school or at dinner time (and occasionally overnight)

I am lucky I suppose as I only have 2, 2 years apart and had the opportunities to be able to increase my earnings

Jozxyqk · 01/07/2018 14:48

If your DS is old enough to get & then leave an awful job, he's old enough to understand the financial consequences. If he/ they don't know, tell him & your older DD straight.

HaroldsSocalledBluetits · 01/07/2018 14:52

This is a problem that people face as their children grow older and, as you have found, there is no longer any bridge for the gap between low wages and the cost of living, particularly given that children do not magically stop requiring support at 18.

As to what you can do, if there is a realistic prospect of higher paid work through retraining that of course is a possibility, then by all means consider it. However, be honest with yourself and do the research first. Are you going to be in the position of having lots of years of low status work experience and pitching yourself among fresh young graduates in a competitive field, and is this an area where that would matter?

Alternatively, depending on the ages of your younger two then yes just do more hours. If you're on the living wage now, doing an extra seven hours a week would make up the shortfall for one child being removed from your claim, whether that's longer days or a weekend day or a combination of the two.

KermitsLoveChild · 01/07/2018 14:59

I've had to retrain to make sure we'll have a better income in future now that the two eldest are out of school (both at college/uni). Still have two in school but preparing for the future now.

donajimena · 01/07/2018 14:59

I had a huge panic about this last year. I did my research and started on a degree course which will hopefully mean I can walk into a 30k plus job (my degree is a 'profession' as opposed to one that leaves you as an old graduate) I have no problem working full time before the children leave education but my lack of qualifications meant that I'd likely only earn NMW..
Do you have time to retrain as something?

HaroldsSocalledBluetits · 01/07/2018 15:20

What's your degree, dona? That sounds great.

Another thing you can do OP is get yourself on the social housing list. If you're paying less rent you can keep a family home for longer. That does of course depend on allocation in your area, but even if you're only likely to get somewhere when you're threatened homeless for example, that would be fulfilled by your landlord giving you notice which is, sadly, always a possibility when you rent privately.

KanielOutis · 01/07/2018 17:44

The bank would only allow my tax credits to be counted as income for mortgage purposes until the children were 18, so it forced me to have a much shorter term than I otherwise would have chosen. Therefore it will be paid off while they are children. So my plan is to not have a mortgage to pay and outgoings will reduce that way. Can you downsize or reduce living costs? It's a sad reality that as soon as your children grow to 18 they are expected to be self sufficient.

WowLookAtYou · 01/07/2018 17:48

Why has their father not been contributing to their upkeep?

BarbaraofSevillle · 01/07/2018 18:49

Can the older teens at least mind their younger siblings if you can get weekend or evening work?

If they don't like that idea, they can work and pay board instead.

abbsisspartacus · 01/07/2018 18:54

My dd is my babysitter till she goes to uni in September she can't find a job this year because I need her to watch her much younger sibs tbf we will cut our cloth to suit and im trying to sell stuff on eBay and maybe a car boot or two

Mrskeats · 01/07/2018 18:56

Why is their father not contributing?

abbsisspartacus · 01/07/2018 19:08

My 18 year olds father? Because he is a shit dad my boys father? He is a controlling cunt who wants me to beg for money

I have bad taste in men

donajimena · 01/07/2018 20:06

harold I'll be an Environmental Health Officer Smile I hope my age won't be against me but its the best thing I could think of. Plan A was a radiographer but the placements would have been difficult Sad

Babyroobs · 01/07/2018 20:57

If you are on a low enough income then you may qualify for working tax credits or Universal credit.

Mrskeats · 02/07/2018 12:33

Can't you go through CMS or whatever it's called for the younger one?
It irritates me beyond belief that some fathers don't contribute

Original poster
Tumbleweed101 · 02/07/2018 19:54

Thanks for your ideas.

DS was making up the shortfall of rent/ct while working so I’m not too annoyed with him just yet (depends how long a new jobs takes to materalise). Obviously not happy with their dad but that’s been an ongoing situation.

I’m already in social housing, thank goodness, so the rent is at least sensible. Moving wouldn’t likely decrease it much.

I can look at reducing some household costs and will likely do so. Planning a big overhaul to see where I can get better deals or cast out unnecessary bills etc.

As someone else said, the teens may not be here too long. My dd has a long term boyfriend and I can imagine her wanting to move out sometime in the next couple years. I’m grateful for what they contribute now but it is unlikely a long term situation.

I’m looking at training in L5 childcare which could lead on to a degree course in early years. However this sector is poorly paid at all levels. I worked out to needing about £14 hr to live without worrying about living costs. I’m not sure if I should try out a different career area but if I do it may take a while to build up experience etc.

I guess it won’t hurt to do the course regardless.

My youngest is 9 so I do have a little while to train and sort myself, it’s just putting a plan of action in place and get some ideas.

OP posts: